Teen Athlete’s ‘Absolutely Incredible’ Sportsmanship After Swim Meet

Feb 14, 2016

In an act of sportsmanship following the disqualification of his competitor a New Jersey high school swimmer, Michael Spark, presented his Conference Championship first-place medal to the athlete he calls “its rightful owner.”

Spark finished second in the 100-yard backstroke race to Latvian-born Rich Fortels, who not only beat him by nearly three seconds but also broke a 14-year-old meet record in the event.

Problems arose later when officials noticed that the winner had worn a swim cap brandished with a swim club logo, which is illegal under the national rules. The medal was then given to the second place finisher.

“You beat me fair and square,” Spark said during a meeting with Fortels, attended by news media. “You broke the meet record and proved to everyone that you are the better athlete and the better swimmer.”

Despite officials rejecting an appeal from Fortels’ swimming coach, Greater Middlesex Conference president Carl Buffalino told MyCentralJersey.com, “Today, Michael is my hero, because he did what’s right.”

(WATCH the video above, or READ the full story at MyCentralJersey.com) –Photo via news video

Dating Site That Hooks Up Volunteers Leads to a Valentine’s Day Wedding

Celeste Hamilton Dennis

Feb 14, 2016

He baked for others.

That’s a big reason why she put Michael Webber in her list of favorites on iHeartVolunteers, the dating site for service-minded people looking for love–he baked for the Peace Corps volunteers who would come through the town in Cambodia where he was serving.

“I really wanted somebody who valued hospitality, volunteerism, and the world being bigger than one’s self,” says Alexandria Price, also a former Peace Corps volunteer. “I could tell from his profile that he was sincere.”

So Price, a 33-year-old international development professional, gave him a shot. Even though she was living in Connecticut at the time and, from what she could tell, he was in China teaching English, she sent him a message.

Her experience on other dating sites prior to iHeartVolunteers had been mixed: Match.com was too overwhelming, the sexual expectations of Tinder too off-putting, and Christian Mingle was too…well, you get the point.

Price and Webber sent emails back and forth. They talked on Skype. They met in person, because coincidentally, Webber hadn’t left yet for China and was living in San Diego where Alex had family. Their first date was in a café – Webber brought her a batch of red velvet cookies – and that encounter kickstarted a love affair that has now lasted almost a year.

“She’s honest, caring, sensitive, incredibly hard working, and a total dork. What’s not to love?” Webber says. “I remember looking at engagement rings like a month after we’d met. When you know, you know.”

Webber is now in China; Price is finishing a tour of Nepal with her job. Through regular Skype dates they’ve become the ultimate digital couple, maintaining their love across oceans. They’re getting married today, on Valentine’s Day.

“I’m not surprised this happened so quickly,” said Shelly Zenner, co-founder of iHeartVolunteers.

Chris and Shelly Zenner, founded iHeartVolunteers

“Volunteers share interests and core values such as compassion, a sense of adventure, flexibility and most importantly the desire to help improve the lives of people and the communities in which they live,” says Chris, Shelly’s husband and co-founder. “Having so much in common right off the bat is a huge advantage when looking for a meaningful relationship.”

While there are other sites out there that do a similar sort of thing – CorpsSocial and YourCauseOrMine, for example – iHeartVolunteers stands out by not only giving 10% of their profits to the volunteer’s affiliated project or organization but by verifying the person’s volunteer experience to suss out phonies.

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To prove who you say you are, a third party screening company created by the Zenners contacts the organization and ask them straight up if you’ve donated your time or not – and the people on the other line never know it’s a dating site who’s calling.

The dating pool has 600 potential volunteers to choose from so far, scattered here and there in almost every U.S. state from Colorado to Connecticut – and some live as far away as Liberia, Kenya, and Uganda.

Aside from its built-in lie detector, iHeartVolunteers prides itself on being low cost. Active volunteers in long-term immersion programs such as Americorps are always free, and as the community grows, subscriptions will cost anywhere from $15.95 per month to $59.95 for six months.

Eventually, they’re looking to host in-person events and offer volunteer opportunities as dates you can choose from. After seeing your date in action, if you don’t want to continue the relationship, at least you can say you did something good for the day.

Past or current volunteers are currently welcome to sign up for a free three-month subscription no matter where they live in the world.

Playing Cupid to the socially conscious, the Zenners hope to not only unite altruists like themselves–the pair actually fell in love while serving in the Peace Corps together– but actually increase volunteerism in the world.

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“Good people meeting good people are likely to do more good together,” Shelly says.

They might just increase the pool of volunteers too, with couples maybe raising children attuned to community service.

Celeste Hamilton Dennis is an editor at the digital arts activism publication, OF NOTE Magazine, and a freelance writer living in Portland, Oregon.

The Amazing Tale of A Karmic Pact Fulfilled: I Got The Love I Finally Gave

Good News Network

Feb 14, 2016

I met Jake Kingston after being told he was a Ferrari-driving doctor with a hundred-acre ranch in the wine country. Not your typical blind date; and a good Valentine prospect? He was recently out of a failed relationship. One of many, as it turns out. In that regard, we were compatible.

Well-suited in other ways, too. We both liked opera, symphony, and theater; fine dining and fine wine. My wish-list for a mate included smart, successful, sensual—which Jake definitely was. And he wasn’t intimidated by a strong, self-assured woman. Unlike with wimpy business colleagues and whiny ex-lovers, with Jake I never had to defend my brass balls.

You bet, baby! As much brass as a university marching band. Because fluffy girly women get mowed down like tender spring grass in the path of a weed-whacker.

“No way was I going to do that shrink-y tell me about your childhood thing. I was all for keeping the past where it belonged: far back in the rear view mirror…”

The first month we saw each other regularly. Within three, it was exclusive. Commitment on his part? Or the default of convenience?

In the delirium of lust and potential new love, I wanted to know if he was the one. So I asked Allie B, an astrologer/psychic I had known for a couple of years, to crystal-ball our future.

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Not long before I met Jake, Allie B had done her California woo-woo thing and said I was destined for the kind of love about which stories are written. “But,” she added, “not until you’re ready.” Which she defined as cleaning out the life-long accumulation of emo-crap she said I hauled into every relationship.

Emotional garbage? Me? Puh. She was wrong about that. But even if she might possibly be right—and she wasn’t—no way was I going to do that shrink-y tell me about your childhood thing. I was all for keeping the past where it belonged: far back in the rear view mirror, visible only with a halogen spotlight and telescope.

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I was sure Allie B would confirm that Jake was my long-awaited storybook lover.

Wrong. “Heartache in an Armani suit,” she said. “His houses of love and relationships are as barren as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard. You’ll have some laughs, see and be seen, catch up on doing-the-dirty … but don’t invest in rice futures because nobody’s ever going to stand outside a chapel pelting the two of you. However.” She paused dramatically. “You have come together to work out a sh*t-heavy karmic pact.”

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Karmic schmarmic. I was in it for love. I would prove her right about the storybook love, wrong about Jake. With a happy smile, I trotted off to find bliss.

Jake and I tooled around in his red Ferraris (he had two), went Tahitian island hopping and cured my coitus hiatus. If I squinted at our relationship sideways it was as mystical and magical as Bali Ha’i. And just as mythical. Because in truth we rarely planned things together; mostly he just told me what he was going to do and invited me to tag along. We never had mushy, late-night conversations; there were no whispered, romantic endearments—although he did tell me often that he really liked me.

He also said we were soul mates. Like maybe we had been together in a previous life and were really good friends. That from a man of science? Wow.

In truth, the only Valentine intimacy we shared was the naked-between-the-sheets kind. That leaves a soul empty and aching for something more.

Fourteen months into it Jake broke my heart at about the same time my devoted four-legged companion of thirteen years departed for the Big Doghouse in the Sky. Add to that a big-oh birthday charging over the horizon like Tyrannosaurus Rex and the country in the throes of corporate downsizing. I was about to be set adrift in a sea of unemployment. “Young and cute” were far behind me—and I had just blown my last chance to find the love for which I yearned.

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For the first time in my life my brass balls imploded. I was an emotional, girly mess, staring down two emotions I could not remember ever feeling: terror … and grief.

Allie B was compassionate but firm: “Demons from the past have come to be soothed, chickie-poo. Time to take a look at what you’re hiding behind that armadillo-hide heart of yours. All your “don’t eff with me” toughness? It’s not strength; it’s fear of how vulnerable you really are—we all are. Time to peel back the layers of self-deception.”

So I went back to Julia, a therapist whose counsel I had previously sought. Over the next months on her couch I did the shrink-y tell me about your childhood thing. Because that’s where it all starts, isn’t it? Where the attitudes are congealed and an unseen path set before us? I discovered mine was paved with some fatal-to-relationships patterns:

When it came to affections I was like an amateur poker player, arms protectively encircling my table stakes, all six senses weighing every imagined “tell” before I would risk a few chips.
Always kept Mercury’s winged track shoes handy near the door so I could bail on my lover before he had a chance to bail on me;
Instead of dealing with my emotions honestly I stuffed the painful ones in a vault where I believed they could not escape. Ha!

LOOK: 10 Easy Ways You Can Practice Mindfulness

At the end of my work with Julia, I made two vows to myself:

I would strive to love and respect myself; because if I did not, why should anyone else?
I would never again deny my emotions, no matter how much they might hurt or how vulnerable they might make me feel.

Not long after I made those commitments Allie B called. “Jake is coming back into your life.”

Goosebumps prickled my scalp. I had felt, even as we said our last farewell, that we were not done.

“Not because he’s your storybook lover,” she continued. “Because he needs something from you—something to do with the karmic pact.”

Sure enough, the next week I saw Jake at the Opera. Bald. Bent. Battling pancreatic cancer. Poised for the grand exit without ever knowing real love. So I stayed true to my new commitments to myself: I embraced the emotions that made me feel vulnerable.

I sat at Jake’s bedside for the last twenty days of his life. For the first time, but not the last, I loved with the most pure and powerful of loves. The kind I so yearned to receive. That’s what I did for Jake. What I did for myself.

Two years after his death Allie B called and said she’d been channeling Jake, who said he was sending someone to love me for the rest of my life. Love me the way I deserved to be loved.

That Saturday Jake’s daughter called from Vermont. Her best friend’s father, a British investment banker, was moving to San Francisco. She asked if she could give him my number.

Fourteen blissful Valentine’s Days later coitus hiatus is as forgotten as a Neil Diamond love song; and an empty soul that longed for something more belongs to a woman I no longer am.

Elaine Taylor is the author of Karma, Deception, and a Pair of Red Ferraris: A Memoir, as well as Final Betrayal and Final Punishment. A former IT headhunter and Contingent Workforce Management consultant, she served on the Board of Raphael House in San Francisco. Find her at her website, Karma Deception.

Photo by Gregory Jordan, CC

Teen Boy Does Sweet Thing for All 834 Girls At School–What a Valentine!

McKinley Corbley

Feb 13, 2016

Love is in the air at Sky View High School along with the smell of 834 carnations being delivered by senior valentine Hayden Godfrey.

The compassionate teen made a Facebook post on Thursday announcing that this year for Valentine’s Day, he was going to make every girl at his Utah school feel special.

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Even though Hayden is already happy in a committed relationship, he spent $450 of his own money earned working as a cook, dishwasher, and grocery bagger to buy the carnations for his carefully planned act of kindness.

So I did a thing today.Today I passed out 900 carnations, one to every girl at SVHS and it was totally worth it. I don...
Posted by Hayden Godfrey on Thursday, February 11, 2016

After enlisting the help of 20 of his friends to pass out the gifts, Facebook messages of gratitude poured in from high school peers complimenting Mr. Godfrey on his gesture.

WATCH: This Teacher Gives Compliments to Every Student, Each Morning

“Thank you so much! You are incredible!!! I will never forget what you did for every girl in the school today!!” one student exclaimed in a comment to Godfrey.

CHECK Out: More Inspiring Stories on Great Kids Page at Good News Network

Tony Robbins Swoops In To Stop Nuns’ Eviction From Their Soup Kitchen

McKinley Corbley

Feb 13, 2016

Most people know Tony Robbins from his inspiring books, business talks, and infomercials on TV, but now the motivational speaker is lending a helping hand to three humble nuns on the streets of San Francisco.

They were in dire straits; having lived out of their building and fed hundreds of homeless people in the last eight years, the landlord declared that if the nuns wanted to stay, they’d either have to pay rent with a 60% increase or get out.

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Tony read about the plight of the Fraternite Notre Dame Mary of Nazareth Soup Kitchen in the Chronicle newspaper and decided to stop by while he was in the Bay area on Friday.

By the end of an hour-long chat with the nuns, Tony was so impressed by their compassion, he handed them a $25,000 check and a promise that the landlord would not try to evict them for the next year. He also promised them $25,000 in advance for the following year, so they could find a new place to continue their holy work.

Tony’s kindness has spurred others to create several crowdfunding pages to support the sisters’ work because their only source of income is selling their pastries at local farmers markets.

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Marilyn Richardson, president of the Mason-McDuffie Mortgage Corp. in San Ramon, set up one of the pages that within two days had raised more than $10,000.

“It was such a really sad story. It touched me,” Richardson told the Chronicle. “We are in the mortgage business, and we understand how the rental market has gone crazy, so it seemed like helping them was a perfect thing for us to do.”

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5 Lessons On Love You Can Learn From Your Pooch For Valentine’s Day

DouglasGreen

Feb 13, 2016

Another Valentine’s Day when it appears that everyone in the world has a perfectly happy committed relationship. In other words, a day when most of us writhe in disappointment.

It’s not that we’re saying we’re not loved at all, or that we don’t love, or that we’ve never tasted love. The frustration I hear most (in my office, in the media, and from friends) is that, “No one loves me the way I need to be loved.” And sure enough, as spring blooms, scads of those happy couples around us will break up or divorce for just this reason – at least one person didn’t feel adequately adored.

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But ask if they’ve ever felt loved in the right way–even by an animal–and you’re bound to hear, “Oh! Well sure. My dog loves me unconditionally, but no person can do that.”

Really? Ask a four-year-old how they feel about their mother. You won’t hear a lot of conditions. Or, more relevantly, ask a new parent how they feel about their teething six-month-old baby at 3:15 a.m. Would they actually make a trade for freedom and give up their bundle of joy? “No way!”

Why not? Because their love is unconditional.

So why are we so damnably bad at giving such love to each other?

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From what I’ve seen in my practice, it’s because of a lethal mixture of two curses: Scoreboards and Entitlements.

From the time we turned about five years old, we started caring enormously about whether any peer relationship we’re in is “fair.” This extends from how long we’re allowed the ball on the playground, to deep hurt about grades on seventh-grade homework, to an enormously complex Scoreboard in romantic relationships. “Did he respond to my text within three minutes?” equates to “Did she clean up after dinner last night?” equates to “Am I the only one who wants to become a parent?” equates to “Does this person love me?”. . . And all equate to the timeless query, “Will you still love me tomorrow?” (Note, I emphasize that this only applies to same-age relationships. When that infant is screaming in our arms, we accept that our relationship with said baby will be a one-sided deal for at least a while – or that a cheerful smile or hug is payment enough.)

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This Scoreboard mindset would be bad enough, but then throw in Entitlement, and things get far worse.

Imagine a couple, with a woman who always returns texts immediately but is a bit messy at home, and a man who’s a neatnik in the house, but sees no reason to respond to a question until he has some convenient time for it.

Now, she doesn’t see her promptness as anything special, while he feels the same way about dishwashing. Therefore, both feel egregiously insulted when the other doesn’t naturally do the same as they would. They consider their behavior “normal,” and believe that anyone in any relationship should be entitled to their partner behaving this way.

These two concepts – the Scoreboard and the Entitlement – added together, create a mindset that could never allow unconditional love, because each partner is constantly fighting to be treated fairly, by someone who puts a different value on the same actions.

The best that can happen in this situation is compromise. This occurs when each partner communicates well enough to come to an agreement, such as, a clean kitchen “equals” swift texting response time. And this certainly makes for a calmer home. But in a compromise, neither participant feels that they’re being loved unconditionally. Peace, but no rapture.

If only each could learn to love so unconditionally that both believed it all the time, imagine how happy and secure the relationship would feel.

Is that possible? Of course it is. We just need to consult with an expert on unconditional love. Someone who understands it so deeply that they can’t imagine living any other way.

In other words, let’s look at what we can learn from dogs.

1. Never take anything your partner does for granted (within the relationship)

When you feed a dog, it’s thrilled. When you pull out a leash, your pup will dance to put Gene Kelly to shame. When you come home after a long day away, your dog will celebrate the Second Coming.

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Yet we hardly ever give our partner the same honor. If your lover brings you flowers, or a case of the flu, do you regard it as a gift, just because it’s from them? When they make mistakes, do you thank them for having tried? Do you thank them for going to work and making a living? Do you thank them for grocery shopping, for taking care of the kids, for just being yours? Do you thank them for eating well, taking vitamins, buttoning up their overcoat, because they’re then taking care of the thing you value most?

Love is an active word. Dogs do “love” all the time, while we do a lot more analysis, scoring, judgment, resentment, and taking-for-granted. Whichever you do, you’re likely to get the same in return.

2. Know that when your partner acts in a way that makes no sense to you, it makes some sense to them.

The core of “unconditional” is to be free of judging. We don’t look at a dog chasing its tail as doing something wrong, and a dog doesn’t look at us spending hours staring at a glowing box as stupid.

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If Jane loves to shop while Jim loves baseball statistics…so WHAT? Why complain? Enjoy their quirks, habits, obsessions for what they are! Or, as the old Sinatra tune crooned, “I’ve got some habits even I can’t explain…why try to change me now?”

3. Always try to give more than your partner can ever return, and let them do the same.

The Golden Rule says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Any mutt would hear it and scoff, “Amateurs! That rule still has a scoreboard!” How about treating others better than you would ever treat yourself?

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A dog devotes herself to protecting her family, giving constant love, entertaining them, and mostly offering consistent obedience. How about using that as a role model, instead of the latest online dating sarcasm.

4. Forget your shame!

The greatest advantage dogs have over humans is their lack of shame. Their smaller brains lack self-consciousness, so Fido rarely judges himself the way you do.

Think of how it felt when your teenage crush rejected you. I’m sure it felt like you’d been pushed off a cliff and, as you fell, you relived every awful feeling you’d ever had about yourself. Dogs don’t absorb a single belief about themselves! Their brains just can’t go there.

So how does that affect their ability to unconditionally love? It makes loving so much easier.

If your beloved says he is too busy to talk to you right now, see that as their issue; maybe they’re working too hard, or are too stressed. And maybe you can do something to help them through that. If you curl up on your partner’s lap and they push you off, just know that they can’t deal with you right now, and try again later. Maybe they’re in a terrible mood, maybe they’re ill, maybe they’re in pain. Whatever it is, your instinct to make it about yourself will only make things worse!

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Feel free to be annoyed at your beloved’s behavior (any mutt would), but always fight against any voices inside you telling you why they did it–especially if that voice says it’s because of something wrong with you.

5. Last but not least, always remember, even a dog will run away from a human who abuses it too much.

Unconditional love means that you love fully and with an open heart. When someone takes advantage of that, or simply treats you too horribly, you don’t need to stay. Even if you still love them unconditionally. Love doesn’t equal taking abuse. And you need to treat yourself with unconditional love (as dogs do) before you can truly give it to someone else.

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Love isn’t easy. At least not for us homo sapiens. Our self-conscious, over-sized brains make it an endless trial. But if you just follow these suggestions, you can get what is promised in the old song: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return.”

And, if you need further Valentine’s coaching, your local animal shelter should have some great professors. They’re just begging to help you all they can.

Douglas Green is a psychotherapist, specializing in helping kids and teens build lives they can be proud of. He is also the creator and writer for AskShirelle.com, which gives advice to kids, teens, and parents, from the point of view of a friendly dog. He is the author of The Teachings of Shirelle – Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead. Learn more about Green at CavalleriaPress, and connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo by Demandaj, CC

Penniless Artist in India Falls in Love, Rides Bike to Sweden to Be With Her

Terry Turner

Feb 13, 2016

It has all the makings of a Bollywood movie: a man from the lowly “untouchable” caste falls in love with a princess. But this is real – and a story that reaches romantic heights higher than any Valentine tale, when he rides a bicycle 4,000 miles to be with her.

PK Mahanandia was born into an Indian caste system that placed him “lower than even cows and dogs.” But he worked his way into college and by his early twenties, was a noted, but poor, portrait artist.

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Charlotte Von Schedvin, descended from Swedish royalty and a student in London in 1975, sought him out in Delhi to paint her portrait.

They fell in love and got married, but when she invited him to go back to Sweden with her, he said he’d make the trip on his own once he’d earned the money to support her.

Two years later and barely making ends meet, Mahanandia decided it was time to forget his pride and go — even if he didn’t have the money to pay for the trip.

He did have enough for a second-hand bicycle, though.

“I never loved biking, but I bicycled for love,” he told CNN.

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The young man pedaled across deserts in Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, hitching rides when he could and traveling as much as 40 to 45 miles a day.

He crossed Turkey and parts of Eastern Europe before pushing north to Sweden — traveling through a total of 10 countries, to be reunited with the love of his life.

The trip took four months and three weeks–PK and Charlotte’s life together since then has lasted 40 years.

They have two grown children (above) and PK is an adviser to the Swedish government on art, while Charlotte has had a long career of teaching music.

Together, they have promoted local arts around the world, and provide scholarships to students from PK’s “untouchable” tribe in India.

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He was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for his work.

PK’s paintings have been exhibited in major cities around the world, but none have been as important as his painting of a Swedish student that sent him on a lifelong journey — that began with a 4,000 mile bike ride.

(READ more at CNN) — Photos: Satyanarayan Patri, Facebook; PK Mahanandia

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Target Upgrades Shopping for Special Needs Families With Carts Designed by a Mom

Terry Turner

Feb 12, 2016

The mother of a special needs child was so frustrated with shopping carts, she designed one herself that grows with each kid like hers — and it’s going nationwide.

Retail chain Target will be providing “Caroline’s Carts” in all of its U.S. stores starting in March.

Most kids outgrow shopping carts by the time they are six or seven, but Caroline’s Carts are adjustable, allowing parents or caregivers to move special needs children or even adults into the cart for the shopping trip.

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That way, people don’t have to struggle with pushing a cart while towing a wheelchair down the aisles.

Drew Ann and David Long came up with the idea after just such a trip to the grocery store. As Drew Ann struggled with both her special needs daughter, Caroline, in a wheelchair and two-year-old son in a shopping cart, she went home and sketched out a solution.

King Soopers, a Colorado supermarket, ordered one of the prototypes back in October for a regular customer in a similar situation. Store employees named that one “Beatrice’s Cart” after Melody Leach’s 2-year-old daughter.

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Drew Ann says Caroline’s Carts promote inclusion of special needs people and their families and she wants to see them in every grocery store in America.

“This is a child that was born with a major disability,” she says of Caroline in the video below. “She has a plan and a purpose. She’s never said a word and she’s never taken a step, but she’s changing lives.”

(WATCH the video from Technibilt below) — Photo: Technibilt video

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Fans Find Out Best Movie Theater Employee is Homeless and Provide ‘Just the Ticket’

Terry Turner

Feb 12, 2016

The ticket-taker at a movie theater was surprised at his own star power, after his fans found out he was homeless — and raised $65,000 for him.

Eric “Fluffy” Glover has been a featured attraction at the Morristown, New Jersey theater where he’s worked for nearly 30 years. He’s locally famous for providing his own sound effects and flamboyant acting. He’ll click like a printing machine and flail his arms as he tears the tickets.

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But he temporarily lost his job when the theater shut down. Later, it’s new owners re-hired Glover, but only part time — just two or three nights a week.

Meanwhile, he lost his home and was living in his car, at shelters, or with relatives. For 10 months, he was too ashamed to tell anyone he was homeless.

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He’s a pretty good actor — even his own children didn’t know his situation — but as soon as a Morristown movie fan figured it out, Glover’s story got a real Hollywood ending.

Lidia Udrija set up the “Helping Eric Glover” GoFundMe page and raised $65,805 to help get him back on his feet. The first $40,000 came in in just four days.

His new employers with AMC Theatres said they were unaware of Glover’s situation and will enroll him in an employee assistance program.

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It wasn’t just money that came pouring in; At least one commenter offered a room to Glover, while others shared some movie memories.

“I donated because on my first date with my wife, Eric took my ticket, and made me smile,” another supporter wrote. “Then, hundreds of times, thru out my life, he did it over and over. It is a gift this man has given to thousands.”

Photo: Lidia Udrija, GoFundMe

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Man Loses 70 Pounds to Save Wife’s Life

Terry Turner

Feb 12, 2016

Here’s a nifty story about how true love conquers all. This man dropped everything to save his wife’s life — including 70 pounds.

The waiting list for a kidney transplant is seven years, but that was too long for Tracy Spraggins. Without a new kidney, she’d die long before one became available.

Her husband, PJ, turned out to be a rare match and he offered one of his kidneys for transplant, but doctors wouldn’t allow it. PJ’s blood pressure was way to high for him to go through the grueling surgery and recovery.

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Instead of giving up, he effectively went into athletic training for transplant surgery. He stuck to a strict diet and exercised to lose weight and improve his health.

Tracy joined him, and together they lost a total of 145 pounds. His blood pressure came down, they underwent surgery last February, and were back on their bikes (above) by April.

Tracy’s kidney function was nearly perfect within three months of the transplant — and at a svelte 195 pounds, PJ today is in the best shape of his life.

(Photos: PJ Spraggins, Facebook)

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United Arab Emirates Names Ministers of Happiness and Tolerance

Terry Turner

Feb 12, 2016

Not feeling happy? There’s a government agency to fix that — if you’re in the United Arab Emirates.

The country ranked 20th on the world happiness scale last year aims to move up the list, and has created a “Ministry of Happiness” to promote social good that will spawn more smiles.

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If you’re upset about all the happy people, the new “Ministry of Tolerance” may want to have a word with you.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and the country’s prime minister, announced both new ministries via Twitter.

“It is the beginning of a new journey of achievement and giving to the people, and we ask God to help us serve and take care of them,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted in Arabic.

A new post, Minister of State for Happiness, will align and drive government policy to create social good and satisfaction.#WorldGovSummit
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 8, 2016

The post of Minister of State for Tolerance has been created to promote tolerance as a fundamental value in UAE society#WorldGovSummit
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 8, 2016

The sheikh named women as ministers to both new posts.

Ohoud al-Roumi, who currently directs the council of ministers’ office, was named Minister of Happiness and Lubna al-Qassimi, formerly Minister of International Cooperation and Development, is the new Minister of Tolerance.

CHECK OUT: Arab Women Edge into Boardrooms as Economies, Societies Shift

The two are among eight women ministers in UAE’s new 29-member cabinet.

The UAE ranked first among Arab states and 20th worldwide on the 2015 World Happiness Report. Switzerland came in first, the U.S. ranked 15th.

(READ more at from AFP) — Photo: Mawaishasan, CC license

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Valentine Legends: 55 Years of Marriage and Still in Love – Here’s Why

Terry Turner

Feb 12, 2016

We have photographic evidence that true love lasts forever.

Peter and Greet from The Hague, Netherlands have been married 55 years — but still celebrate every Valentine’s Day like a young couple –madly in love.

She remembers the first time they held hands. It was on a train ride. That’s why photographer Nienke van Denderen put them on a train for part of this “photo love shoot” for greeting card makers Fuif.nl.

The two still exchange cards with a personal message of love every year – along with a voucher for a cup of coffee or brunch.

They thought they might be too old for this sort of romantic photo shoot, but the finished images prove beauty is ageless.

Peter and Greet were married in 1960 and are living examples of love’s timelessness.

Like these photos which capture a split-second in time, Peter and Greet are a perfect example of how love can make time stand still.

In the video below, Peter and Greet share advice on how to make love last and stay happy–even for more than a half-century.

Also, see more photos at the Fuif Blog

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6 Authentic Ways To Impress Your Partner on Valentine’s Day Without Going Broke

Good News Network

Feb 12, 2016

Most people expect the typical gift of flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day from their partner. This year go beyond the cliché gifts and think from the heart to create an extra special Valentine’s Day with your love. You’ll find a fresh new perspective and your partner will be totally surprised.

If you want to be romantic, but don’t buy-into the commercialism, check out these 6 ways to impress and be yourself, right from the heart:

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Express Your Love through Words:

Put your love into words by writing a love letter, poem or song about your relationship. Who wouldn’t love an old fashioned, hand-written love letter given to them? During the hustle and bustle of life we often forget about these old school traditions. It’s so meaningful to hear why we were chosen and loved by someone. If writing isn’t your strong suit, consider a top 10 list of things you love about your partner. Remember you’re not writing to get published, so just use your own voice and show your Valentine how meaningful your relationship is.

Send a Valentine to Those They Love:

Make an impression and share the love by sending a Valentine’s Day card, chocolates or flowers to your sweetie’s mother and grandmother. This is a sentimental gesture that will surely impress your Valentine and their family.

Plant a Tree:

Buy a beautiful flowering tree in honor of your Valentine’s Day together and when spring comes you can plant the tree in your backyard. The tree can represent the growth in your relationship over time and each year it will be a special reminder of that Valentine’s Day in your relationship.

Create a DIY Gift:

Homemade is truly best (unless we’re talking about a diamond ring). Show off your crafty side by making your Valentine a gift rather than buying one. If you knit, try your hand at knitting a pair of mittens with your initials on the palm side or maybe a special word that means something to you both. Or you can dig out the colored construction paper, heart doilies and glue. Channel the elementary school Valentine’s Day cards of your past. Cut, glue and decorate your way to a beautiful Valentine’s Day card sans the Hallmark stamp.

Make a Photo Gift:

Nothing captures your real life and love together like the photos you’ve collected throughout your relationship. There are so many creative ways to make a gift of photos. The only hard part will be deciding which one to do. A few photo gift ideas include a collection of Instagram photos in a flip book, a video montage of photos set to music and a hard cover photo book that you design and upload photos to. You can add your own special message to any of these gifts as well. This can also be made into an annual gift. Who wouldn’t love getting a collection of memories to cherish forever?

MORE: Dozens of Fun, Yet Frugal, Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Plan Ahead Dates:

Whether you plan for a month or a year, organize dates ahead of time and package the plans into a gift for your Valentine. This will show your partner that you definitely see a future for the two of you! Come up with ideas that leave a big impression and build lasting memories. Plan a picnic in the park with an outdoor concert/movie; a trip to the museum or science center; join an Earth Day clean-up and planting initiative; plan a board game/beer tasting night in; a trip to a local vineyard for wine tasting; an all-day movie marathon with your favorite collective movies and snacks; a date night to see an up and coming band or comedian; a visit to the local farmer’s market or flea market; go strawberry or apple picking; go on a DIY pub crawl; find a drive-in movie theater; or rent bikes from your local bike share program and tour around your city. Take some time to divide your date activities by month and place them in a booklet you can both reference back to.

Justin Lavelle is the Communications Director at BeenVerified, a source to check whether your new date is who they say they are. BeenVerified allows individuals to find more information about people, phone numbers, email addresses, property records and criminal records in a way that’s fast, easy and affordable. (Photo by Pedrosiminoes, CC)

WWII Vet Meets Girlfriend After 70 Yrs Thanks to Strangers Funding Reunion (WATCH)

Terry Turner

Feb 11, 2016

Seven decades, a World War, and 10,000 miles couldn’t keep this couple from celebrating Valentine’s Day together.

Norwood Thomas was a 21-year-old American paratrooper in Britain when he met and fell in love with Joyce Morris, a Londoner, during World War II. He parachuted into France on D-Day, and though he wrote to her several times, they never saw each other again — until this week.

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In one of his letters, Thomas asked Joyce to marry him, but she misunderstood, thought he was marrying someone else, so stopped writing him.

Now 88, Joyce enlisted one of her sons to use the Internet to track down the paratrooper, and the search led to an article about D-Day veterans in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The two reconnected on Skype – and thanks to a crowdfunding campaign that raised the money, the lost lovers will reunite in person after seventy years.

The American vet boarded a flight to Adelaide, Australia, where Joyce now lives, and will spend the next two weeks with his wartime girlfriend.

“We’re going to have a wonderful fortnight,” Morris told Channel 10’s The Project.

(WATCH the video from 5 News below and READ more at the Associated Press) — Photo: 5 News

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Sydney Rallies to Let 9-yo Superhero Rescue the City as Iron Boy (WATCH)

Terry Turner

Feb 11, 2016

When Sydney, Australia needed a hero, the city turned to Domenic, a nine-year-old with cystic fibrosis who just happens to be Iron Man’s apprentice, Iron Boy.

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With the evil robot, Ultron, threatening Sydney, and his henchmen taking a reporter hostage, the police commissioner of New South Wales had one option–he called on Iron Boy for help.

With help from the Make-a-Wish Foundation which helps sick children fulfill their dreams, a police helicopter picked up Domenic from a playground and, once in his armor, Iron Boy sped around the city by speedboat and police cruiser, rescuing the hostage, defeating the henchmen and meeting Ultron for a final showdown in front of a crowd of cheering citizens.

Afterwards, Commissioner Andrew Scipione presented Domenic with the medal of valor and maybe even better, the real Tony Stark (actor Robert Downey, Jr.) sent him a video message announcing Domenic was now an “Honorary Avenger.”

(WATCH the video from News 7 below and SEE the Robert Downey, Jr’s message at the bottom) — Photos: News 7

A dream come true for an ill boy: Iron Man's apprentice was called in to help the police #IronBoyAU https://t.co/1te1kkaN9J
— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) February 11, 2016

Robert Downey, Jr. message:

A special message from Tony Stark
We didn't think today could get any better for our newest Super Hero #IronBoyAU, But then he received this amazing message:
Posted by Make-A-Wish Australia on Wednesday, February 10, 2016

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Rare Wildflower Superbloom Paints Death Valley in Brilliant Color (VIDEO)

Terry Turner

Feb 11, 2016

Death Valley Superbloom FB National Park Service

Death Valley is coming alive with a rare, once in a decade, “superbloom” — where millions of wildflowers burst into full color all at once.

Park Ranger Alan Van Valkenburg calls it “beyond all your expectations.”

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He’s lived in Death Valley National Park for 25 years and says flowers are almost always blooming somewhere in the park. But superblooms are rare and brief when they do happen.

Millions of seeds may lie buried in the park’s soil for years, adding up for a massive crop of wildflowers. When the weather conditions are just right, they all begin to sprout at the same time, spreading across the gray and brown desert in waves of brilliant colors.

CHECK OUT: Wisconsin Man Plants 4-Mile Stretch of Sunflowers in Tribute to Late Wife

The Park Service says it’s happening right now and Van Valkenburg calls it a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for visitors to see a superbloom.

(WATCH the video from the National Park Service below) — Photos: National Park Service

Death Valley Exposed: Wildflowers - February 2016
Death Valley Exposed: Wildflowers - February 2016 In what could be a rare ‘super bloom’, Death Valley is transforming from a valley of death to a valley of life.“If you get the chance to see a bloom in Death Valley, especially a super bloom, you should take the opportunity to see it because it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.” – Park Ranger Alan Van ValkenburgJoin Alan in this episode of "Death Valley Exposed" and learn more about the current bloom that is spreading across the park. Death Valley Exposed is a video podcast series that highlights various snapshots from Death Valley National Park. Produced by Bristlecone Media and the National Park Service in association with Death Valley Natural History Association, an official nonprofit partner of Death Valley National Park.
Posted by Death Valley National Park on Wednesday, February 10, 2016

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Instead of Evicting City Farmers From His New Land, Owner Sows Amazing Goodwill

Terry Turner

Feb 11, 2016

Even though they had been using land that didn’t belong to them, a handful of elderly urban farmers must have been cultivating a crop of goodwill –because they harvested a gift of 8 acres of new land.

Real estate developer Bob Clark of Clayco, Inc., whenever he drove by on the highway, had always been fascinated to see the urban farmers work a stretch of land near the airport in St. Louis, Missouri. When his company bought the land out from under them, Clark found a way they could keep farming.

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The men, mostly in their seventies, always knew they’d have to give up the land.

About two dozen construction and factory workers had been growing beans, tomatoes, okra, and other crops there for 35 years. What started as an amusement, turned into a money saving source of nutrition for their families as they retired.

The Airport Authority, which owned the land until 2006, had let them stay, and even gave them water for their crops because they kept tidy the nine acres — saving the airport about $60,000 in mowing costs every year.

When the airport sold the land to become part of a massive real estate development, the farmers were ready to pack away their plows. That’s when Clark stepped in with other plans.

WATCH: Pastor Turns Food Desert into Garden of Eden for the Poor

He offered the farmers eight acres right across the street — and a deal that allowed them to farm it for the rest of their lives.

On top of that, he threw in an irrigation system and a building that has running water.

“I’ve always been appreciative of how they’ve operated,” Clark told the St. Louis Post Dispatch. “Most of them are retired folks — people who had productive careers but weren’t ready to sit around the house for the rest of their lives.”

CHECK OUT: How to Create a ‘Humane Backyard’ for Wildlife and Turn Your Ordinary Garden Lush

Clark decided even before he bought the land in 2006, he would always make sure these farmers could keep growing crops. He’s directed his company’s lawyers to make sure the new land can be used for agricultural purposes in perpetuity.

The men will own the eight acres outright — and can hand it down to future farmers.

(READ more in the St. Louis Post Dispatch) — Photos: Biswarup Ganguly, CC; Clayco, Inc.

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Election Day in New Hampshire Unites Foes From All Sides (WATCH)

Good News Network

Feb 11, 2016

Media coverage of politics and political campaigns tends to focus solely on conflicts and magnify the many differences people have. But the truth is, politically active people (regardless of their ideology) ultimately share far more in common with other political activists, than with the general public.

Conservative and liberal activists feel so strongly about their core values that they are willing to stand out in the cold for hours to help elect their candidate. They often strike up conversations with their foes because they are the only ones also out standing in the snow.

A video shot in New Hampshire captures this camaraderie, as supporters on different sides find out that they share deeper core values about civic engagement – “but from a different path,” as one campaigner noted.

Kevin Bowe is a political animal who is always one of those people holding signs. He caught the video-making bug 10 years ago and, from his home base in northern Massachusetts, has been shooting a web series on the New Hampshire Primary for the past 9 months.

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“Knowing that it is very common for poll volunteers to bond across the aisle, I visited seven polling places on election day and managed to get two exchanges that demonstrated my point,” Bowe told Good News Network.

“As for the Hillary snowman…serendipity is a wonderful thing and I came across it after a wrong turn while visiting one of 7 polling places.”

(WATCH the exchanges of friendship – across blue and red chasms – from Story-crafters.com)

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Taiwan’s First Woman President Becomes Most Powerful Woman in Chinese Speaking World

Terry Turner

Feb 11, 2016

Without any family ties to politics (in fact, her father repaired cars for a living), Taiwan’s first woman president was elected in a landslide to improve the nation’s economy.

Tsai Ing-wen, a lawyer who had never been elected to any public office, won the presidency last week taking 56% of the popular vote. She joins a very small club of around two dozen world leaders who are women.

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She was recognized for cleaning up corruption in the Democratic Progressive Party after becoming its chairperson in 2008, and, in a highly traditional country, has spoken out for marriage equality and LGBT rights.

The cat-loving, wine-drinking, law professor had run for mayor of New Taipei in 2010, but lost. Instead, she served as chairperson of the Fair Trade Commission and a consultant to Tiawan’s Mainland Affairs Council and National Security Council.

Posted by 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen on Friday, November 27, 2015

Those jobs have given her a reputation as a tough and skilled negotiator, but she likes to unwind at the end of the day with her two cats, Tsai Hsiang Hsiang and Ah Tsai, reading a book and enjoying a glass of wine.

(READ more at The Telegraph) — Photo: VOA

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Van Gogh Painting Recreated As Actual Bedroom to Rent on Airbnb

McKinley Corbley

Feb 11, 2016

That room is just as pretty as a picture – as a matter of fact, it’s exactly as pretty as Vincent Van Gogh‘s famously breath-taking painting Bedroom In Arles.

Painstakingly recreated as an exhibit by artists at the Art Institute of Chicago, the painting has been brought to life as a room for rent at $10 a night on Airbnb.

LOOK: Van Gogh Themed Parade Dazzles With Amazing Dahlia-Covered Floats

The room’s rental page description is narrated as if by the tortured artist himself, claiming: “I’m charging $10 for no other reason than that I need to buy paint.”

With guests only allowed to stay for one night, the experience is being offered from February 14th to May 10th — and it looks like, as of this posting, all the days have been scooped up and booked by art lovers starving for a taste of Van gogh’s genius.

Want to spend a night in one of the world’s most famous paintings?

Available tomorrow on @airbnb. #VanGoghbnb pic.twitter.com/9iYtcMmYUX
— Art Institute (@artinstitutechi) February 8, 2016

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1. Never take anything your partner does for granted (within the relationship)

2. Know that when your partner acts in a way that makes no sense to you, it makes some sense to them.

3. Always try to give more than your partner can ever return, and let them do the same.

4. Forget your shame!

5. Last but not least, always remember, even a dog will run away from a human who abuses it too much.

Express Your Love through Words:

Send a Valentine to Those They Love:

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Plant a Tree:

Create a DIY Gift:

Make a Photo Gift:

Plan Ahead Dates:

Plant a Tree: